Kevin O’Connell is the 10th head coach in Minnesota Vikings history. He opens his term at the helm Sunday when the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Kickoff is at 3:25 p.m. The game is being televised on Fox with their new No. 1 broadcast team of Kevin Burkhardt on play-by-play, Greg Olsen as analyst and Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi on the sidelines.
Vikings coaches have a 5-5 record in their first game as head coach. Bud Grant had two tenures with the team, losing his first game in 1967 and winning in 1985.
First games
Scores of debuts for Minnesota Vikings coaches in their first full season as head coach. Mike Tice and Leslie Frazier were interim head coach at the end of the season prior to taking over. Bud Grant had two tenures as head coach.
1961, Norm Van Brocklin: Minnesota Vikings 37, Chicago Bears 13
1967, Bud Grant: San Francisco 49ers 27, Minnesota Vikings 21
1984, Les Steckel: San Diego Chargers 42, Minnesota Vikings 13
1985, Bud Grant: Minnesota Vikings 28, San Francisco 49ers 21
1986, Jerry Burns: Detroit Lions 13, Minnesota Vikings 10
1992, Dennis Green: Minnesota Vikings 23, Green Bay Packers 20 (OT)
2002, Mike Tice: Chicago Bears 27, Minnesota Vikings 23
2006, Brad Childress: Minnesota Vikings 19, Washington Redskins 16
2011, Leslie Frazier: San Diego Chargers 24, Minnesota Vikings 10
2014, Mike Zimmer: Minnesota Vikings 34, St. Louis Rams 6
Season openers
The Vikings have a record of 33-27-1 all-time in season openers.
Green Bay will tie San Francisco as the team Minnesota has faced the most in an opener with eight meetings. The Vikings are 5-2-1 vs. the 49ers and 3-4 vs. the Packers.
Scores
1961 - Minnesota Vikings 37, Chicago Bears 13
1962 – Green Bay Packers 34, Minnesota Vikings 7
1963 – Minnesota Vikings 24, San Francisco 49ers 20
1964 – Minnesota Vikings 34, Baltimore Colts 24
1965 – Baltimore Colts 35, Minnesota Vikings 16
1966 – Minnesota Vikings 20, San Francisco 49ers 20 (tie)
1967 - San Francisco 49ers 27, Minnesota Vikings 21
1968 – Minnesota Vikings 47, Atlanta Falcons 7
1969 – New York Giants 24, Minnesota Vikings 23
1970 – Minnesota Vikings 27, Kansas City Chiefs 10
1971 – Minnesota Vikings 16, Detroit Lions 13
1972 – Washington Redskins 24, Minnesota Vikings 21
1973 – Minnesota Vikings 24, Oakland Raiders 16
1974 – Minnesota Vikings 32, Green Bay Packers 17
1975 – Minnesota Vikings 27, San Francisco 49ers 17
1976 – Minnesota Vikings 40, New Orleans Saints 9
1977 – Dallas Cowboys 16, Minnesota Vikings 10 (OT)
1978 – New Orleans Saints 31, Minnesota Vikings 24
1979 – Minnesota Vikings 28, San Francisco 49ers 22
1980 – Minnesota Vikings 24, Atlanta Falcons 23
1981 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21, Minnesota Vikings 13
1982 – Minnesota Vikings 17, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10
1983 – Minnesota Vikings 27, Cleveland Browns 21
1984 - San Diego Chargers 42, Minnesota Vikings 13
1985 - Minnesota Vikings 28, San Francisco 49ers 21
1986 - Detroit Lions 13, Minnesota Vikings 10
1987 – Minnesota Vikings 34, Detroit Lions 19
1988 – Buffalo Bills 13, Minnesota Vikings 10
1989 – Minnesota Vikings 38, Houston Oilers 7
1990 – Kansas City Chiefs 24, Minnesota Vikings 21
1991 – Chicago Bears 10, Minnesota Vikings 6
1992 - Minnesota Vikings 23, Green Bay Packers 20 (OT)
1993 – Los Angeles Raiders 24, Minnesota Vikings 7
1994 – Green Bay Packers 16, Minnesota Vikings 10
1995 – Chicago Bears 31, Minnesota Vikings 14
1996 – Minnesota Vikings 17, Detroit Lions 13
1997 – Minnesota Vikings 34, Buffalo Bills 13
1998 – Minnesota Vikings 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7
1999 – Minnesota Vikings 17, Atlanta Falcons 10
2000 – Minnesota Vikings 30, Chicago Bears 10
2001 – Carolina Panthers 24, Minnesota Vikings 13
2002 - Chicago Bears 27, Minnesota Vikings 23
2003 – Minnesota Vikings 30, Green Bay Packers 25
2004 – Minnesota Vikings 35, Dallas Cowboys 17
2005 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, Minnesota Vikings 13
2006 - Minnesota Vikings 19, Washington Redskins 16
2007 – Minnesota Vikings 24, Atlanta Falcons 3
2008 – Green Bay Packers 24, Minnesota Vikings 19
2009 – Minnesota Vikings 34, Cleveland Browns 10
2010 – New Orleans Saints 14, Minnesota Vikings 9
2011 - San Diego Chargers 24, Minnesota Vikings 10
2012 – Minnesota Vikings 26, Jacksonville Jaguars 23 (OT)
2013 – Detroit Lions 34, Minnesota Vikings 24
2014 - Minnesota Vikings 34, St. Louis Rams 6
2015 – San Francisco 49ers 20, Minnesota Vikings 3
2016 – Minnesota Vikings 25, Tennessee Titans 16
2017 – Minnesota Vikings 29, New Orleans Saints 19
2018 – Minnesota Vikings 24, San Francisco 49ers 16
2019 – Minnesota Vikings 28, Atlanta Falcons 12
2020 – Green Bay Packers 43, Minnesota Vikings 34
2021 – Cincinnati Bengals 27, Minnesota Vikings 24 (OT)
Records
Opponents listed alphabetically
Atlanta Falcons 5-0
Buffalo Bills 1-1
Carolina Panthers 0-1
Chicago Bears 2-3
Cincinnati Bengals 0-1
Cleveland Browns 2-0
Dallas Cowboys 1-1
Detroit Lions 3-2
Green Bay Packers 3-4
Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts 1-1
Jacksonville Jaguars 1-0
Kansas City Chiefs 1-1
Las Vegas/Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders 0-2
Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams 1-0
Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers 0-2
New Orleans Saints 2-2
New York Giants 0-1
San Francisco 49ers 5-2-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-2
Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers 2-0
Washington Redskins/Commanders 1-1
Notable
In last year’s game vs. Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings edged the Packers 34-31 on a 29-yard field goal by Greg Joseph as time expired. That was the 500th regular-season win for Minnesota and evened the Vikings record in home games against the Packers at 30-30.
In the 2020 season opener, Green Bay defeated Minnesota 43-34 in an empty U.S. Bank Stadium. Aaron Rodgers threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns. Kirk Cousins threw TD passes for the Vikings and Dalvin Cook ran for two scores.
Kirk Cousins is slated to start his fifth straight Vikings season opener.
Fran Tarkenton started seven straight (1972-1978) and Daunte Culpepper six (2000-2005).
The first time
Here’s what was happening on the date of the first Vikings-Packers game, Oct. 22, 1961.
No. 1 TV show
The No. 1 TV show that week was Wagon Train, which was then airing on NBC. It would switch to ABC after that season.
The Western followed the trials of a California-bound wagon train after the Civil War.
Its format attracted different famous guest stars per episode, as travelers or as residents of the settlements they encountered.
Many starring roles were played by already famous actors such as Ernest Borgnine, Bette Davis, Jane Wyman, Ronald Reagan, Lee Marvin, Joseph Cotton, and Angie Dickinson.
Ed Sullivan
The Ed Sullivan Show was a television variety show that ran on CBS from 1948-1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan.
Guests that night were Chubby Checker, Matt Monro, Wayne and Shuster, Phil Silvers, and Nancy Walker.
Chubby Checker performed his 1960 No. 1 hit, The Twist, Show, reigniting the popularity of both the dance and the record. The song returned to the Top 100 three weeks later, and became the first and only hit single to reach No. 1 twice.
No. 1 song
The top song in the country was Hit The Road Jack by Ray Charles.
No. 1 movie
Breakfast at Tiffany's was the number one despite playing in only five key cities.
It was the first of five weeks on top.
Here’s the trailer:
The film was selected in 2012 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".
Series highlights
Series: Packers lead series 64-56-3
First meeting: 10-22-1961: Green Bay Packers 33, Minnesota Vikings 7
Last meeting: 01-02-2022: Green Bay Packers 37, Minnesota Vikings 10
Current streak: Lost 1
Longest Vikings win streak: 7 (1975-1978)
Longest Packers win streak: 5 (three times)
Most Vikings points: 42 (1986)
Most Packers points: 48 (1962)
Vikings shutouts: 2 (1971, 20-17)
Packers shutouts: 1 (2007)
Fewest points, both teams 3 (Vikings 3, Packers 0, 1971)
Scores
10-22-1961: Green Bay Packers 33, Minnesota Vikings 7
10-29-1961: Green Bay Packers 28, Minnesota Vikings 10
09-16-1962: Green Bay Packers 34, Minnesota Vikings 7
10-14-1962: Green Bay Packers 48, Minnesota Vikings 21
10-13-1963: Green Bay Packers 37, Minnesota Vikings 28
11-10-1963: Green Bay Packers 28, Minnesota Vikings 7
10-04-1964: Minnesota Vikings 24, Green Bay Packers 23
11-01-1964: Green Bay Packers 42, Minnesota Vikings 13
11-21-1965: Green Bay Packers 38, Minnesota Vikings 13
12-05-1965: Green Bay Packers 24, Minnesota Vikings 19
11-06-1966: Minnesota Vikings 20, Green Bay Packers 17
11-27-1966: Green Bay Packers 28, Minnesota Vikings 16
10-15-1967: Minnesota Vikings 10, Green Bay Packers 7
12-03-1967: Green Bay Packers 30, Minnesota Vikings 27
09-22-1968: Minnesota Vikings 26, Green Bay Packers 13
11-10-1968: Minnesota Vikings 14, Green Bay Packers 10
10-05-1969: Minnesota Vikings 19, Green Bay Packers 7
11-16-1969: Minnesota Vikings 9, Green Bay Packers 7
10-04-1970: Green Bay Packers 13, Minnesota Vikings 10
11-22-1970: Minnesota Vikings 10, Green Bay Packers 3
10-17-1971: Minnesota Vikings 24, Green Bay Packers 13
11-14-1971: Minnesota Vikings 3, Green Bay Packers 0
10-29-1972: Minnesota Vikings 27, Green Bay Packers 13
12-10-1972: Green Bay Packers 23, Minnesota Vikings 7
09-30-1973: Minnesota Vikings 11, Green Bay Packers 3
12-08-1973: Minnesota Vikings 31, Green Bay Packers 7
09-15-1974: Minnesota Vikings 32, Green Bay Packers 17
11-17-1974: Green Bay Packers 19, Minnesota Vikings 7
11-02-1975: Minnesota Vikings 28, Green Bay Packers 17
12-07-1975: Minnesota Vikings 24, Green Bay Packers 3
11-21-1976: Minnesota Vikings 17, Green Bay Packers 10
12-05-1976: Minnesota Vikings 20, Green Bay Packers 9
10-02-1977: Minnesota Vikings 19, Green Bay Packers 7
11-27-1977: Minnesota Vikings 13, Green Bay Packers 6
10-22-1978: Minnesota Vikings 21, Green Bay Packers 7
11-26-1978: Minnesota Vikings 10, Green Bay Packers 10 (tie)
09-23-1979: Minnesota Vikings 27, Green Bay Packers 21 (OT)
11-11-1979: Green Bay Packers 19, Minnesota Vikings 7
10-26-1980: Green Bay Packers 16, Minnesota Vikings 3
11-23-1980: Green Bay Packers 25, Minnesota Vikings 13
09-27-1981: Minnesota Vikings 30, Green Bay Packers 13
11-29-1981: Green Bay Packers 35, Minnesota Vikings 23
11-21-1982: Green Bay Packers 26, Minnesota Vikings 7
10-23-1983: Minnesota Vikings 20, Green Bay Packers 17 (OT)
11-13-1983: Green Bay Packers 29, Minnesota Vikings 21
11-11-1984: Green Bay Packers 45, Minnesota Vikings 17
12-16-1984: Green Bay Packers 38, Minnesota Vikings 14
10-13-1985: Green Bay Packers 20, Minnesota Vikings 17
11-10-1985: Green Bay Packers 27, Minnesota Vikings 17
09-28-1986: Minnesota Vikings 42, Green Bay Packers 7
12-07-1986: Minnesota Vikings 32, Green Bay Packers 6
10-04-1987: Green Bay Packers 23, Minnesota Vikings 16
12-13-1987: Green Bay Packers 16, Minnesota Vikings 10
10-16-1988: Green Bay Packers 34, Minnesota Vikings 14
12-11-1988: Green Bay Packers 18, Minnesota Vikings 6
10-15-1989: Minnesota Vikings 26, Green Bay Packers 14
11-26-1989: Green Bay Packers 20, Minnesota Vikings 19
10-28-1990: Green Bay Packers 24, Minnesota Vikings 10
12-02-1990: Minnesota Vikings 23, Green Bay Packers 7
11-17-1991: Minnesota Vikings 35, Green Bay Packers 21
12-21-1991: Green Bay Packers 27, Minnesota Vikings 7
09-06-1992: Minnesota Vikings 23, Green Bay Packers 20 (OT)
12-27-1992: Minnesota Vikings 27, Green Bay Packers 7
09-26-1993: Minnesota Vikings 15, Green Bay Packers 13
12-19-1993: Minnesota Vikings 21, Green Bay Packers 17
09-04-1994: Green Bay Packers 16, Minnesota Vikings 10
10-20-1994: Minnesota Vikings 13, Green Bay Packers 10 (OT)
10-22-1995: Green Bay Packers 38, Minnesota Vikings 21
11-05-1995: Minnesota Vikings 27, Green Bay Packers 24
09-22-1996: Minnesota Vikings 30, Green Bay Packers 21
12-22-1996: Green Bay Packers 38, Minnesota Vikings 10
09-21-1997: Green Bay Packers 38, Minnesota Vikings 32
12-01-1997: Green Bay Packers 27, Minnesota Vikings 11
10-05-1998: Minnesota Vikings 37, Green Bay Packers 24
11-22-1998: Minnesota Vikings 28, Green Bay Packers 14
09-26-1999: Green Bay Packers 23, Minnesota Vikings 20
12-20-1999: Minnesota Vikings 24, Green Bay Packers 20
11-06-2000: Green Bay Packers 26, Minnesota Vikings 20 (OT)
12-17-2000: Green Bay Packers 33, Minnesota Vikings 28
10-21-2001: Minnesota Vikings 35, Green Bay Packers 13
12-30-2001: Green Bay Packers 24, Minnesota Vikings 13
11-17-2002: Minnesota Vikings 31, Green Bay Packers 21
12-08-2002: Green Bay Packers 26, Minnesota Vikings 22
09-07-2003: Minnesota Vikings 30, Green Bay Packers 25
11-02-2003: Green Bay Packers 30, Minnesota Vikings 27
11-14-2004: Green Bay Packers 34, Minnesota Vikings 31
12-24-2004: Green Bay Packers 34, Minnesota Vikings 31
01-09-2005: Minnesota Vikings 31, Green Bay Packers 17 (NFC Wild Card Game)
10-23-2005: Minnesota Vikings 23, Green Bay Packers 20
11-21-2005: Minnesota Vikings 20, Green Bay Packers 17
11-12-2006: Green Bay Packers 23, Minnesota Vikings 17
12-21-2006: Green Bay Packers 9, Minnesota Vikings 7
09-30-2007: Green Bay Packers 23, Minnesota Vikings 16
11-11-2007: Green Bay Packers 34, Minnesota Vikings 0
09-08-2008: Green Bay Packers 24, Minnesota Vikings 19
11-09-2008: Minnesota Vikings 28, Green Bay Packers 27
10-05-2009: Minnesota Vikings 30, Green Bay Packers 27
11-01-2009: Minnesota Vikings 38, Green Bay Packers 26
10-25-2010: Green Bay Packers 28, Minnesota Vikings 24
11-21-2010: Green Bay Packers 31, Minnesota Vikings 3
10-23-2011: Green Bay Packers 33, Minnesota Vikings 27
11-14-2011: Green Bay Packers 45, Minnesota Vikings 7
12-02-2012: Green Bay Packers 23, Minnesota Vikings 14
12-30-2012: Minnesota Vikings 37, Green Bay Packers 34
01-05-2013: Green Bay Packers 24, Minnesota Vikings 10 (NFC Wild Card Game)
10-27-2013: Green Bay Packers 44, Minnesota Vikings 31
11-24-2013: Minnesota Vikings 26, Green Bay Packers 26 (tie)
10-02-2014: Green Bay Packers 42, Minnesota Vikings 10
11-23-2014: Green Bay Packers 24, Minnesota Vikings 21
11-22-2015: Green Bay Packers 30, Minnesota Vikings 15
01-03-2016: Minnesota Vikings 20, Green Bay Packers 13
09-08-2016: Minnesota Vikings 17, Green Bay Packers 14
12-24-2016: Green Bay Packers 38, Minnesota Vikings 25
10-15-2017: Minnesota Vikings 23, Green Bay Packers 10
12-23-2017: Minnesota Vikings 16, Green Bay Packers 0
09-16-2018: Minnesota Vikings 29, Green Bay Packers 29 (tie)
11-25-2018: Minnesota Vikings 24, Green Bay Packers 17
09-15-2019: Green Bay Packers 21, Minnesota Vikings 16
12-23-2019: Green Bay Packers 23, Minnesota Vikings 10
09-13-2020: Green Bay Packers 43, Minnesota Vikings 34
11-01-2020: Minnesota Vikings 28, Green Bay Packers 22
11-21-2021: Minnesota Vikings 34, Green Bay Packers 31
01-02-2022: Green Bay Packers 37, Minnesota Vikings 10
Points scored: Green Bay Packers 2723, Minnesota Vikings 2415